Coin counting and packaging machine.



E. T. McKAIG. com COUNTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE.

APPLIUI. TION FILED MAY 14, 1904.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

4 SHEETS'SHEET 1.

E. T. MGKAIG- COIN COUNTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1904.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET z.

E. T. MoKAIG. 00m COUNTING AND PAOKAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1904. 1,023, 1 2.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912;

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E. T. MoKAIG. COIN COUNTING AND PACKAGING MAUHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1904,

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

EDDY 'I'. MGKAIG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ALBERT E. SILK AND HENRY DENNINGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COIN COUNTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

Application filed May 14, 1904. Serial No. 207,904.

To all whom "it may concern: Be it known that I, EDDY T. MGKAIG, a citizen of the United States,. residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin Counting and Packaging Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.- .-My invention relates to that class of coin counting and packaging machines designed to either count the coins and deposit them in bulk or to count and simultaneously deposit them in small packages or wrappers of predetermined capacity, or, if desired, to deposit in such package .or wrapper in an orderly form without counting or register ing the number deposited, but for the want of a better'term I will designate the invention as a coin counting and packaging machine, it being understood that the invention in some respects relates to the packaging alone, and in others to the registering or counting alone, packaging and counting or registering.

My invent-ion has for one of its objects to provide an improved, simple and efficient machine of the described character which 'shall possess among other advantages the capability of stopping when a predetermined number of coins has been registered or deposited in the package.

With these ends in View, my invention consists in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts by which the said objects and certa'in other objects hereinafter appearing are attained, all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings,Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a verti'cal sectional view on the line 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the packa e or wrapper holder in vertical section. ig. 4 is a detail vertical section on the line H, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a. detail view of the stop or lock hereinafter described. Fig. 6 is a detail face view of the ratchet mechanism: Fig. 7 is a detail face viewof part of said mechanism with the ratchet wheel removed: Fig.'8 is a detail rear elevation of the ratchet wheel. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 illustrating a modification, and Fig.

and in still others to both 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 illustrating a modification. I

In this invention the coins are held in contact with the surface of a coin selecting means or conveyer preferably of a cylindrical rotary form which is capable of picking up a predetermined number of the coins in each of several pockets and conducting these .coins to a point where they are dropped either directly into a bag or onto the table, or, if desired, into a package or wrapper, and in their transit from the supply holding means to their point of departure from the conveyer they encounter and operate suitable registering mechanism which is so constituted that after a predetermined number of coins pass it the register is locked and the coin conveyer or selecting means is thrown out of operation, thus allowing the attendant ample time to remove and close the package or wrapper, if one be used, and to replace it with an empty wrapper before the machine resumes operation.

The coinconveyer or selecting means preferably comprises a drum or cylinder 1, jourseries of blocks 4e, 5, 6, arranged in circumferential rows, and the blocks of one series farther apart than those of another so as to constitute coin pockets of different width for receiving coins of different denominations, the number of rows or series of pockets of course being immaterial, but in the example shown there are three rows andthese are divided from each other by two peripheral partitions 7', 8, so that when one row is being used the coins cannot escape laterally into the other." These blocks, the spaces between which form the pockets, are shown of square form but this is incidental to the method of machining the periphery of the drum to produce the pockets economically.

A supply of coins is maintained against the periphery of the drum while it is revolving and as the pockets pass the supply they each receive and convey away a predetermined number of the coins, preferably one in each pocket, which is only as deep as the coin is thick, and this supply is thus maintained in contactwith the drum by aninclined plate 9, arranged between the side members of the frame 2, across the drum and if desired it may have a chute like extension 10 for increasingits capacity and down which the coins slide to a position against the drum. To prevent the coins from accumulating in cylindrical like formation between the plate I 9 and the drum and rotating in this condi tion without dropping into the pockets agitators may be provided at this point for keepingthem stirred up and to that end I provide one or more bars 11,112 projecting through the plate 9 and the chute 10 at different points at their'upper ends and connected at their lower ends to a cross-bar 13, which is secured to a leverl4 pivoted at 15 to the frame 2 and having aroller'116 arranged to be engaged by cam 17 on the shaft 3. v

The coin supply holding means is com 'mon to all of the series of coin pockets, but in order that all of the series eggeepting one may be closed and thus prevent small coins from entering the pockets intended for the larger coins, such supply holding means'is provided with one or more switches in the form of pivoted'gates 18, 19 arranged to deflect the coins from'the pockets not in use, and as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, these gates are pivoted opposite the two partitions 7, 8 so as to close two of the series of pockets on either side, and when thus closed the gates lie one gainst the other so that they may be long efiiough to close the largest pockets and will be accessible to the finger of the operator when it is desired to change their position.

The blocks 4, 5, 6, are provided with circumferential grooves 20, 21, 22, respectively, and arranged over and pro ecting downwardly into these grooves are fingers or projections 23, 24, 25 which are secured .to a shaft 26 journaled in the frame 2 and connected at one end to a depending arm 27, and this armis connected by a link 28 with the operating lever 29, of any suitable counter 30 so that should a coin be in any one of project. This shield may be pivotally or yieldingly mounted on a cross-rod 33 and yieldingly pressed toward the coins by springs or cushions 34 interposed between the top of the shield and a cross-bar 35.

Arranged on the side of the drum opposite the chute 10 are a series of packageholders equal in number to the number of series of pockets employed. These package holders are all of the same construction, an

.39; This bottom 38 is elevated a distance equal to the end of the package or wrapper "which must project beyond the coins therein forforming the fold, and the tubes when telescoped as close together as possible are of less length'than the wrapper so as to leave the upper endof the latter projecting abovethe upper end of the tubes, accessible to the fingers of the operator when folding orclosing. it, and the length of the tubes is preferably such that the upper endthereof will-come substantially flush with the top of the stack of coins which are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 In using this device the upper projecting end of the wrapper is first folded and the device with the coins and wrapper therein is then inverted and the tubes removed leaving the coins in the wrapper with the then upper end of the wrapper projecting above. the coins and accessible to be folded.

In order that the tubes 36, 37 may not become accidentally detached but be detached if desired, the inner one is provided with a spring tongue 40 having a lug 41 running in v a slot 42 in. the outer one.

The upper end of the ,outer tube has a flange 43 whereby'it may be supported in a groove 44 formed in a mouth piece 45 one of which is permanently attached to the machine opposite each of the series of coin pockets in the drum, and is adapted to receive the coins and direct them into the wrappers in the tubes or package holder. These mouth pieces are separated from each other by partitions 46 which conjoin with the partitions 7, 8, and opposite the mouth pieces are arranged chutes 47, '48, 49 for conducting the coins from the drum to the mouth pieces and the upper ends of these chutes are provided with projections 50, 51, 52 engaging in thegrooves 20, 21, 22, respectively, and-serving as strippers for dislodging the coins from the pockets.

The mechanism for stopping the machine after a predetermined number of coins has passed the fingers 23, 24, 25, will now be described.

On one end of the shaft 26 is loosely mounted a'ratchet wheel 53 provided with. as many teeth as there are coins to be (it-- positcd in the package holders and. eagaging with these teeth is a pawl 54 which is secured to the arm 27, and receives oscillatory motion therefrom. In order, however, that the teeth of the ratchet may be incased this arm isformed with an enlargementhaving therewith.

an annular flange 27 which serves both as said casing and a means of carrying the pawl. Formed on the back of the ratchet wheel or otherwise constructed to operate in unison therewith is a rotary member 55 having a periphery which is plain excepting for a notch 56 formed therein and upon which periphery rests a stop 57 adapted to drop into said notch when the ratchetmakes a complete rotation, and thereby lock the ratchet wheel and consequently prevent the arm 27 from being oscillated in one direction or toward the counter 30, such oscillationjbeing produced in that direction by a suitable spring 58, and in the other direction as before described by the fingers 23, 24, 25, but the primary purpose of this notch 56 is to throw the driving mechanism or the drum 1 out of operation, and this is accomplished through the intermediary of an arm 59 on which the stop 57 is formed, and the lower end of which serves to support a lever 60 having means, such as an anti-friction roller 61, for engaging a cam 62 on the support 63 of a rotary driving member or pulley 64 which engages a flange 65 on the drum 1 and thereby produces its rotation, the support 63 being pivoted at 66 so as to swing the pulley 64 to and from the flange 65, it also serves to carry the driving shaft 67 which has a crank 68 or any other driving means.

The lower end of the support 63 is provided with an arm or extension 69 and to this is attached the lower end of a spring 70 whose upper end is fixed to the lower end of the. bar 59 so that the spring serves the 'twofold purpose of pulling the stop 57 downwardly into the notch 56 when the latter arrives thereunder and simultaneously lowering the trip lever 60 and throwing the driving pulley 64 out of engagement with the flange 65, the anti-friction roller 61 at that time passing under the nose of the cam 62. This outward movement of the pulley 64 is also rendered positive by an incline 71 formed on the inner edge of the support 63 and with which engages a pin 72 on. the lever 60, the cam 62 and incline 71 being thus confined between the pin 72 and roller 61. In starting the machine the trip lever 60 israised by hand and held until the ratchet 53 has turned a sutlicientnumber of teeth, one or more, to carry the notch 56 from under the stop 57 whereupon the lever 60 may be released andthe stop will be supported by the plain periphery of disk or member 55 until the notch again registers Should it be desired, however, to continue the operation of the machine past the notch 56 for more than one'turn of the ratchet wheel, as for example when it is desiredv to count coins in bulk without depositing a predetermined number. in the wrapper or other package, the trip lever 60 may be maintained in its elevated position by a catch 73 pivoted to theside of the Y frame and adapted to be turned up under and support the lever 60.

The inner end of the lever 60 is pivoted to a swinging support 74; which is in the form of a bell crank pivoted at 75 to the side of the casing and which is rendered ad justable by an adjusting screw 76 whlchimpinges against a stop 7 7 on the casing, thus providing means for adjusting the anti-friction roller 61 and lug 72 with relation to of said drum, and in order that the pulley may be conveniently introduced one side of the casing is formed with an aperture 81.

In case the coin pockets should pick up from the supply more than theirallotted number of coins, one coin riding upon the other, or'in case the forward edge of the coin in the pocket should hang on the forward edge of the pocket and not properly seat itself they would be apt to clog the machine and interfere with the proper operation of the registering mechanism, and in order to avold this contingency, I provide a rotary member or brush arranged over each of the series of coin pockets, and revolving in the reverse direction of rotation of the drum so as to engage and brush these coins rearwardly and cause them to pro-perly seat incase they assume an improper position, or to knock the top coin back into faces of the blocks 4, 5, 6, oneend of the shaft being provided with a pulley 86 connected with a cross-belt 87, or other suitable means with a driving pulley 88 on crank shaft 67.

In Figs. 9 and 10 is shown a modification of the ratchet mechanism which provides for the use of the machine for counting and packaging a dilferent number (if-coins from that number which would be packaged during a complete rotation of the ratchet wheel as already. described. The number of coins deposited in the package before the machine stops depends upon the number of teeth or i the number of partial rotations of the ratchet wheel, and consequently by reducing the size of the ratchet wheel or the number of teeth therein the numberof coins tobe packaged may be reduced, buti inasmuch as it is not feasible with this particular mechanism to have a very wide range 'of difference in the size of Y the ratchet Wheels, I- accomplish the desired object by making a small reduction from the first to the second size, for example, as shown in Fig. 6, wherein the ratchet wheel 53 is smaller than the ratchet wheel 53, but

not sufficiently lessin diameter to make any difference in the operation of the pawl, and

' providing the smaller size with. a plurality ous ratchet wheels are interchangeable on .the shaft 26 and any one is placed within of notches 58 as shown in Figs-1 andlO. The ratchet wheel 53, for example, has fifty teeth and might be utilized for packaging five dollar packages of dimes, while the ratchet 53 has-forty teeth and might be utilized for packaging two dollar packages of nickels, and by roviding the disk or rotary member 55 with two of the notches 56 equi-distant on the periphery thereof, I divide the forty tooth ratchet into two twenties, and consequently it may be utilized for putting up five dollar packages of quarters. It is-understood, of course, that these vari- 1. In a machine for the purpose described,

the combination of a coin conveyer, a package holder for receiving the coins directly from said conveyer, means for holding a supply of coins accessible to said conveyer, a member arranged adjacent to said package holder for receiving the coins from said,

conveyer, and means on said member for ejecting and directing thejcoins from the conveyer. i

2. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a coin conveyer, means for holding a supply of coins contiguous to said conveyer, a package holder 'for' receiving the coins from the conveyer, a chute leading from the c'onveyer to the package holder for directing the coins into the latter and a projection on the chute for dislodgingthe coins from the conveyer when arriving at said chute.

3. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of arotary coin conveyer comprising a drum having its periphery provided with spaced blocks arranged in a plurality of circumferential series, to form sets therebetween adapted to receive the coins flatwise, partitions arranged between said series for dividing them from each other and for retaining the coins in the seats,

means for holding a supply of coins contiguous to said pockets and package holders arranged opposite said series respectively for receiving the coins therefrom.

4. In a machine for the purpose described,

the combination of a coin conveyer having grooved coin pockets, means for supplying said pocketswith coins and a stripper engaging in said groove for dislodging the coins from said pockets.

5,. In a machine for the purpose described,

the combination of a coin conveyer having afplurality of rows of coin pockets, means a the other for diverting the coins from a plu- -rality of said pockets.

7. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a coin supporting conveyer, means for supplying the same with coins, a shield arranged contiguous to the line of movement of said conveyer for holding the coins flat thereon, and registering mechanism comprising an operating finger arranged adjacent to the shield and adapted to be engaged by the coins on said conveyer.

8. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of means for holding a supply of coins, means for selecting a predetermined number of coins from said supply,

means for registering the number of coins selected, means for snnultaneously throwing the operating-mechanism lTODSflld selecting means out of action and locking said register, and a trip for simultaneously unlocking the register and throwing said operating mechanism into action. v

9. In a machlne for the purpose descrlbed,

the combination of means for holding a sup-' ply of coins, means for selecting a predetermined number of coinsfrom said supply, a rotary driver for operating said selecting means, a movable support for said driver,

means for retaining said support in operative position and means connected to the last said means for releasing and for shifting the driver out of operating position after a predetermined number of coins have been selected.

10. In a machine for the purpose described, the co mbination'of means for holding a supply of coins, means for selecting a predetermined number of coins from said supply, a rotary driver for'operating said selecting means, a movable support in which said driver is mounted, a cam on said support, a movable member having. means engaging said cam for moving said support and holding said driver in operative posiof said tubes of smaller diameter than said tion, and means for releasing said movable inner tube to allow room between the wall of 10 member after a predetermined number of the inner tube and the bottom for. the coin coins have been selected, comprising a prowrapper.

jection arranged to be engaged by the coins. EDDY T. MGKAIG.

11 'Ina machine for the purpose de Witnesses:

scribed, the combination of two telescoped F. A. HOPKINS,

tubes and a raised bottom in the inner one M. B. ALLSTADT.

Oopiea of this patent may be' obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ofratents,

7 Washington, D. G. I 

